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The 10 Women You'll Be Before You're 35
Everyone - from your mother to your boyfriend - is always telling you who you are and who you should be. But who are you, really, and who do you really want to be? New Graduate; Dollarless Diva; Worker Bee; Party Girl; Body-Conscious Babe; Chameleon; Crisis Chick; Ms. Independence; Wirl (half woman/half girl); True You. In "The 10 Women You'll Be Before You're 35," author Alison James takes you on a journey of self-discovery - from wide-eyed ingenue to the real woman you were born to become. You'll learn how to finesse each phase with poise - experimenting with abandon but ultimately keeping only what perfectly fits the True You. With "The 10 Women You'll Be Before You're 35," you'll dare to become the woman you never dreamed you could be!
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
February 3, 2010
I recommend this book to every female in their 20's. Alison James has a fun, direct way of presenting the many different attitudes, goals, and hang-ups women experience between the time they graduate college and turn 35. Most readers will find that they've already (on some level) experienced each phase James describes and may find comfort in knowing that their shifts in identity are not only normal but equally important in discovering who it is they want to be. With helpful tips, true stories, and motivational quotes James makes sense of the different identities we take on and inspires women of all ages to embrace the wisdom and strength their past has given them.
The phases explored by James are The New Graduate, The Dollarless Diva, The Worker Bee, The Party Girl, The Body-Conscious Babe, The Chameleon, The Crisis Chick, Ms. Independence, The Wirl (half woman/half girl), and the True You. Even if readers cannot relate to all of these phases, they may appreciate gaining insight into other important women in their lives or feel more prepared for the ambiguous future that lies ahead of graduating college.
As someone who has felt limited by self-doubt and perfectionism, I have a strong appreciation for literature that celebrates the fact that you don’t have to have it all together all of the time and, more importantly, that it’s often our ridiculous and frustrating phases that build the most character. I plan on buying this book for my own personal library and if I am blessed with a daughter will give it to her when she graduates college.
“Don’t laugh at a youth for [her:] affectations; [s:]he is only trying on one face after another to find a face of [her:] own” - Logan Pearsall Smith (in The 10 Women You’ll Be Before You’re 35).
The phases explored by James are The New Graduate, The Dollarless Diva, The Worker Bee, The Party Girl, The Body-Conscious Babe, The Chameleon, The Crisis Chick, Ms. Independence, The Wirl (half woman/half girl), and the True You. Even if readers cannot relate to all of these phases, they may appreciate gaining insight into other important women in their lives or feel more prepared for the ambiguous future that lies ahead of graduating college.
As someone who has felt limited by self-doubt and perfectionism, I have a strong appreciation for literature that celebrates the fact that you don’t have to have it all together all of the time and, more importantly, that it’s often our ridiculous and frustrating phases that build the most character. I plan on buying this book for my own personal library and if I am blessed with a daughter will give it to her when she graduates college.
“Don’t laugh at a youth for [her:] affectations; [s:]he is only trying on one face after another to find a face of [her:] own” - Logan Pearsall Smith (in The 10 Women You’ll Be Before You’re 35).
June 24, 2009
Waste of my time. Couldn't get past the ridiculous chapter headings. This author is cynical and unoriginal. Can't believe this thing got published!
February 13, 2009
Cute for a recent college grad, no longer relevant past one year in the work force.
abandoned
August 10, 2019I read the first chapter of this book and decided to skip ahead to read the page overview of each woman you could be. This might have been a cute and interesting book in 2005 when it was published but it just doesn’t resonate with me in 2019.
Unfortunately it’s outdated and there are many things in here that showcase just how far we’ve come as a society. Or maybe It’s that I’m no longer in my 20s and I can no longer relate to these ideas.
This might be a good book for you if you have just graduated from college and are thinking 35 is so far away. There is some truth to the different ‘women’ so it might be interesting.
Unfortunately it’s outdated and there are many things in here that showcase just how far we’ve come as a society. Or maybe It’s that I’m no longer in my 20s and I can no longer relate to these ideas.
This might be a good book for you if you have just graduated from college and are thinking 35 is so far away. There is some truth to the different ‘women’ so it might be interesting.
May 11, 2018
I'm afraid this book didn't really do it for me. It was one of those books I was hanging out to get through and probably wouldn't have bothered with, but I promised myself I would complete each book I started in my 30 things.
The style of writing was easy and yes there were phases I could relate to and times I uttered a chuckle but overall I feel this book was too young for me.
Probably better for a early-mid twenty something.
It did have some good advice given in a lighthearted way which may have been good to read 10 years ago! lol
The style of writing was easy and yes there were phases I could relate to and times I uttered a chuckle but overall I feel this book was too young for me.
Probably better for a early-mid twenty something.
It did have some good advice given in a lighthearted way which may have been good to read 10 years ago! lol
April 19, 2024
Sometimes you find the perfect book at the exact time you need it. That's what this book was for me. James walks the reader through 10 stages that most women go through and I could see part of myself in each one.
There were a few things I didn't agree with, but overall I'm glad I picked this book up because it helped me view my life in a better, more positive way.
May 28, 2017
I started reading this after finishing college and found it cute and funny. Life happened and I put it down for nearly 10 years. I attempted to start over and finish it this time but found it incredibly boring and predictable.
July 15, 2018
Hilarious! Had me nodding, smiling, cringing, sighing, hiding, shrugging, and agreeing with every line she wrote. A true insight into the stages of life a girl will go through, some of which, I am in now!
July 24, 2023
The 10 women you’ll be before 35.
Even though I didn’t experience a lot of these, I can relate to many of these phases. Not everything goes in order either!
Life is a tapestry and we’ll live a lot of lives throughout the seasons. Enjoy the journey.
Even though I didn’t experience a lot of these, I can relate to many of these phases. Not everything goes in order either!
Life is a tapestry and we’ll live a lot of lives throughout the seasons. Enjoy the journey.
April 24, 2019
I found this to be cute, humorous, clever and at times insightful.
May 29, 2021
Girls/women in their twenties and early thirties will probably enjoy!
September 19, 2008
There’s no need to buy this one; you can read it in less than 20 minutes at the bookstore if the title catches your fancy (as it did mine). The book probably serves a much better purpose as a means of reminiscing for those of us who’ve already bumbled our way through most of the phases described in the book. But I think the point was to market it as the “ideal” book to gift to that recent college girl grad. That being said, I’m pretty sure that if somebody had given me this book at 22, it probably would have pissed me off.
The book assumes a lot. Now, I don’t totally think it assumes incorrectly because a lot of the chapters covered in the book are phases that a lot of us who’ve gone through our 20’s (and survived) would recognize (and laugh/groan/smile/reminisce) but the thought of predicting somebody’s behaviors before they actually do it makes me feel old and skeevy and “I told you so-ish,” which ain’t cool. Women in their 20’s will figure out how to make it to 35 with or without this book (probably presumptuous of me to say since I’m only 29 at the time I write this review)…
But wait. Have I just demeaned the entire purpose of a self-help book? Probably. Which may be why I don’t read many of them at this juncture of my life (although I still adore the self-esteem boosting picture book with the little elf man my mom bought me when I was 13—I wish I could remember the title because I wore out my old copy and would love to replace it!)
The book assumes a lot. Now, I don’t totally think it assumes incorrectly because a lot of the chapters covered in the book are phases that a lot of us who’ve gone through our 20’s (and survived) would recognize (and laugh/groan/smile/reminisce) but the thought of predicting somebody’s behaviors before they actually do it makes me feel old and skeevy and “I told you so-ish,” which ain’t cool. Women in their 20’s will figure out how to make it to 35 with or without this book (probably presumptuous of me to say since I’m only 29 at the time I write this review)…
But wait. Have I just demeaned the entire purpose of a self-help book? Probably. Which may be why I don’t read many of them at this juncture of my life (although I still adore the self-esteem boosting picture book with the little elf man my mom bought me when I was 13—I wish I could remember the title because I wore out my old copy and would love to replace it!)
March 13, 2013
It took me awhile to get through because it was slow, boring, and read at a 6th grade reading level. It was difficult for me to desire spending my precious time on this, so I primarily read it in very small bits over the course of a month. Anyway... The book is ok. It is very "cutesy" and could/should have been a much shorter, coffee table sort of book, rather than trying to format it like a novel. I genuinely enjoyed a few lines in each chapter and did, indeed, identify with each phase. I spent $1.50 on this so I can walk away feeling good from the experience. I would NOT pay full price for this. If you are really interested in the subject, find it for $5 or less so you don't feel jipped. Pick it up at the library or skim the sections while at the bookstore and get the gist of what it is saying.
August 30, 2009
I'd been meaning to read this book for ages but I couldn't find it on any bookshop shelves ANYWHERE for months, so eventually I just ordered a cheapy copy of it online.
I think I'd bigged it up in my mind a little more than it needed to be honest, but it was still an enjoyable read. It was a little more fluff than I thought it might be, more of an amusing read than anything particularly instructive. And of course, as is always with these kind of books, it's very generic. But still a laugh to read if you're really into that sort of thing.
I think I'd bigged it up in my mind a little more than it needed to be honest, but it was still an enjoyable read. It was a little more fluff than I thought it might be, more of an amusing read than anything particularly instructive. And of course, as is always with these kind of books, it's very generic. But still a laugh to read if you're really into that sort of thing.
June 25, 2007
If you are into self-help type books you may just like this books. The book describes different phases that many woman go through throughout their lives. The problem with the book was that they didn't really tell me anything that I didn't already know and also that I didn't feel that a lot of the information really applied to me or a lot of my friends for that matter. Wouldn't really recommend this one!
November 10, 2007
Note: This is a mom-issued book.
In attempt to be humorous, the author often falls short and just sounds cheap and moronic. It's like an episode of Sex and the City that doesn't go anywhere. Still, as I recovered from a break-up, something about the ridiculousness of this book was comforting. If this is the kind of thing most women can relate to, I'm still ahead of the dating curve!
In attempt to be humorous, the author often falls short and just sounds cheap and moronic. It's like an episode of Sex and the City that doesn't go anywhere. Still, as I recovered from a break-up, something about the ridiculousness of this book was comforting. If this is the kind of thing most women can relate to, I'm still ahead of the dating curve!
July 10, 2009
This was funny at times... but not worth the $3 I paid for the sale version of it. It was a very fast read- and yes, you do recognize different stages of your life (since I'm a lil older than the teen girl this is modeled for...at least that's the way it seemed to me.) But if you are in a reflective epriod of your life- it seemed like a fitting read.
May 13, 2007
This book is just a fun read. You will recognize and identify with the different phases that women go through. This book is famous for creating the oh so true phrase "Perfecting the Martini Smile" Trust me it is a funny read and the vocabulary is outrageous funny.
May 1, 2009
This book is inane. I don't know why I even checked it out in the first place. I'm kind of cheating when I say I marked it read. I tried to read it, and did skip to the various sections. No way am I reading every word in this book.
November 3, 2011
Cute book - would be a great gift for a female student. Some parts were really cheesy but I enjoyed the author's sarcasm and the quotes sprinkled throughout the book. My favorite chapters were the "party girl" and the last one one about being a "wirl!"
February 4, 2014
I was able to relate to it in a way that every woman should... Realistic... Although it may not always be applicable to everybody's situation but the thoughts are transferable and life skills evolve into something that will fit in a certain circumstance
February 5, 2017
I couldn't even finish this. It replaces another figure telling us who we are - I couldn't relate to any of the caricatured roles, even when the behaviour matched mine somewhat well. It is so over the top and too exaggerated to add any value.
October 12, 2007
Just a good flip through and see where you are and where you've been book.
A little to general I think for any substance wouldn't run out to buy it but is good enough to pass on to a friend.
A little to general I think for any substance wouldn't run out to buy it but is good enough to pass on to a friend.
January 10, 2008
This book was good, but I think I would enjoy it more now or in the next few years. I think I was a little too young to really appreciate the book.
February 8, 2008
I think this book saved my life!! :)
February 21, 2008
A fun book in which you'll see yourself through each stage. A total girly must!
November 3, 2008
Meh. Nothing really new.
September 24, 2017
Lists 10 phases women repeatedly go through and points out the lessons learned during each.
I'm pretty sure I went through all of them before 23.
I'm pretty sure I went through all of them before 23.
August 27, 2009
My least favorite kind of book. I read about 2 pages of it. Given to me by my stepmom, which explains it all.
March 15, 2010
This actually helped me put my thoughts together. It was quite funny too. Better than I thought.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews